You who believe, seek help through patience and prayer; surely, God is with the steadfast. 153 And say not of those who are slain in the way of Allah: dead. Nay, they are living, but ye perceive not. 154 Be sure we shall test you with something of fear and hunger, some loss in goods or lives or the fruits (of your toil), but give glad tidings to those who patiently persevere, 155 Who say, when a misfortune striketh them: Lo! we are Allah's and lo! unto Him we are returning. 156 These! on them shall be benedictions from their Lord and His mercy, and these! they are the rightly guided. 157 ۞ Safa and Marwah (names of two places in Mecca) are reminders of God. It is no sin for one who visits the Sacred House (in Mecca) to walk seven times between (Safa and Marwah.) Whoever willingly does a good deed in obedience to God, will find God All-knowing and Fully Appreciative. 158 Lo! Those who hide the proofs and the guidance which We revealed, after We had made it clear to mankind in the Scripture: such are accursed of Allah and accursed of those who have the power to curse. 159 Excepted, however, shall be they that repent, and put themselves to rights, and make known the truth: and it is they whose repentance I shall accept - for I alone am the Acceptor of Repentance, the Dispenser of Grace. 160 Indeed, those who disbelieve and die while they are disbelievers - upon them will be the curse of Allah and of the angels and the people, all together, 161 Under it they shall remain forever; their punishment shall not be lightened, nor shall they be granted respite. 162 Your God is One God. There is no god except He. He is the Merciful, the Most Merciful. 163